“Don’t let anything stand in the way of you claiming and manifesting the life that you choose rather than the life you have by default.” – Joy Page

Throughout our lives, we tend to look at obstacles as being negative annoyances. We despise impediments. I believe obstacles are misunderstood. They are not meant to be loathed; they are intended to be embraced. Obstacles are opportunities or seeds of transformation; they are seeds for personal development and growth. So, why do most of us associate obstacles with negativity?

Obstacles come in various shapes and forms. They may be small such as spilling coffee on you while heading to that important meeting or significant such as the loss of dearly loved family member. Both are obstacles. One, however, is far more traumatic. Apparently, some obstacles have a more profound effect on our emotional well-being. It is our reaction to those obstacles that define our current and future prosperity.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t mourn the loss of a loved one. That would be ridiculous. In fact, we ALL must go through our grieving process. That process is unique to each person. My grandmother used to say, “Time heals all wounds.” While this is mostly true; we are still left with those permanent scars to remind us we were hurt. These scars will never, ever go away. However, it is our reaction to those scars that are important.

Spilling coffee on your suit sounds like a big deal, especially before a big meeting. Flip the switch and turn it into something positive. Make light of the situation instead of getting angry or frustrated. Your reaction to the situation is what is important, not the experience itself. Obstacles are a test of conviction. Frustration and anger just lead to more frustration and anger. You attract what you put out to the world.

If you are angry and frustrated, you are going to attract angry and frustrated people into your life to perpetuate your mindset. If you are sad and lonely, you are going to create an environment that immortalizes what you believe to be true and unchangeable. We design and immortalize what we think to be true; the world does not decide that for us. We can’t change what we go through in life, but we can change our reactions.

My grandmother also used to say, “This too shall pass.” Everything in life is temporary. Everything. Our time on this planet. Our happiness. Our sadness. Our whatever it may be. All temporary. However, our reaction to those events is a choice. The magnitude and duration of those events or feelings is a choice. We determine the magnitude and duration of the “temporary.” In other words, we have the power of reaction to all obstacles we face.

Obstacles are true seeds of transformation. The type or direction of change depends on your reaction to those obstacles. You can spin the situation positively or negatively depending on your response. We can’t stop the negative from crossing our paths. In fact, it is just part of life. However, we don’t have to accept it as a permanent fixture. Learn from it and as Bruce Lee stated, “Walk on!”

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Published by T. Christian Smith

I am a 22 year veteran of law enforcement where I served as a supervisor, Field Training Officer (FTO), Training and Development Officer, and SWAT. I have a bachelor degree in Business Administration and a master degree in Organizational Leadership. I have a genuine passion for helping those who are struggling through life's obstacles.
View all posts by T. Christian Smith